MDC President to Represent the U.S at the 2009 World Conference on Higher Education Sponsored by UNESCO

Conference at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris July 5 - 8

MDC President Dr. Eduardo J. Padron

Miami, July 2, 2009 -
During his four-decade career in higher education, Miami Dade College (MDC) President Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón has served on numerous important national and international boards and projects, including appointments by four U.S. Presidents. Recently, the Obama Administration nominated him to represent our nation at the upcoming 2009 World Conference on Higher Education: The New Dynamics of Higher Education and Research for Societal Change and Development July 5 – 8, at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris.

The Conference will have two overarching themes – Higher Education’s role in addressing major global challenges and Societal Commitment and Social Responsibility in Higher Education. Three broad sub-themes to be addressed are – Internationalization, regionalization, and globalization; Equity, access and quality; and Learning, research and innovation. Under Dr. Padrón’s leadership, MDC has been at the vanguard of these themes for many years. Its Learning Outcomes initiative, which addresses many of these themes, has served as a national model and, just recently, the college joined the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in hosting a major forum on social responsibility.

Dr. Padrón is the chair of the AAC&U becoming the first Hispanic and Florida president to hold the important post. He’s also on the board of directors of the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, among other important organizations. To view his complete biography, please visit http://www.mdc.edu/main/about/college_president.asp.

The 2009 World Conference will provide a global platform for innovative thinking and debate on the rapidly changing face of higher education worldwide. It will convene key stakeholders from across the globe.

Miami Dade College is the nation’s largest institution of higher education with an enrollment of more than170,000 students. It is also the nation’s top producer of associate in arts and science degrees. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree programs including several baccalaureate degrees in education, public safety management and nursing. In fact, its academic and workforce training programs have served as national models of excellence. MDC is also renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is home of Miami Book Fair International, Miami International Film Festival, the Cultura del Lobo performing arts series, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, a sculpture park and a large art gallery and theater system.

Miami Dade College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Miami Dade College.
Miami Dade College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, marital status, age, religion, national origin,
disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or genetic information. Contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs/ADA Coordinator, at 305.237.2577 for information.